Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has begun developing the next generation nuclear-powered cruise missiles. Addressing an award ceremony for weapons developers in the Kremlin, President Putin said, the nuclear-capable weapons were of historic significance for Russia and for the entire 21st century. He said, the speed of the next generation of nuclear-powered cruise missiles will be more than three times the speed of sound, and in the future, they will even become hypersonic. 

Mr. Putin said, all their plans for the development of promising weapons systems, for the development of the defence sector, for equipping the Russian army and Navy with state-of-the-art weapons and vehicles are being implemented. Mr Putin added that the newest Avangard strategic missile system has entered combat duty.

President Putin highlighted that they have developed and put on duty and launched mass production of the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile system. He pointed out that they have also equipped their intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine missiles with advanced warheads.

The Russian President handed over state awards to developers of the country’s nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile and Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to restart nuclear weapons testing. The US president said he gave the order because of other countries testing programmes.